BSF jawan, LeT militant killed

A Border Security Force jawan and a militant of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayiba were killed and two youths were injured, while forces averted a major tragedy in the Kashmir valley since Friday evening.

BSF Deputy Inspector General R P Singh said that ultras lobbed two grenades and opened fire, seriously wounding a jawan, when security forces were to storm a militant hideout at Machoo, on the city's outskirts.

The jawan, who sustained head injuries, died before he could be
admitted to hospital.

Singh said the security forces shot dead a militant who tried to escape. He was later identified as Abu Imran of the LeT.

Two youths were injured when an explosive device went
off at Karnah in the frontier district of Kupwara on Friday night. The
injured, who were hospitalised, are in a critical condition.

The security forces also averted a major tragedy when they defused a powerful improvised explosive device planted by militants
in north Kashmir on Saturday morning.